Ashton K C
Department of Nursing, Rutgers, State University of New Jersey, Camden, USA.
Prog Cardiovasc Nurs. 1999 Spring;14(2):53-60, 74.
Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death among American men and women. Much research has focused on CHD in men while less is known about the disease in women. Traditionally, research protocols have excluded women or have not addressed gender differences in the experience of the disease. A major factor contributing to morbidity and mortality is delay in seeking medical care when experiencing symptoms of CHD. The purpose of this study was to examine the experiences of men and women with symptoms of CHD in seeking care. A sample of 121 men and women admitted to one of two cardiac units in an urban hospital were interviewed using a questionnaire concerning demographics and factors related to delay. The study demonstrated that women were more likely than men to contact a family member when experiencing symptoms. Smokers and previous smokers with symptoms were less likely to delay seeking care. The findings suggest important differences in the experience of CHD among men and women. Implications for practice and directions for further research are discussed. The information gained can be used to develop interventions that reduce delay and improve health care for men and women with CHD.
冠心病（CHD）是美国男性和女性的主要死因。许多研究都集中在男性的冠心病上，而对女性患该病的了解较少。传统上，研究方案要么将女性排除在外，要么没有探讨疾病经历中的性别差异。导致发病和死亡的一个主要因素是在出现冠心病症状时延迟就医。本研究的目的是调查有冠心病症状的男性和女性在寻求治疗方面的经历。对一家城市医院两个心脏科收治的121名男性和女性进行了抽样调查，使用一份关于人口统计学和与延迟相关因素的问卷进行访谈。研究表明，女性在出现症状时比男性更有可能联系家庭成员。有症状的吸烟者和既往吸烟者延迟就医的可能性较小。研究结果表明，男性和女性在冠心病经历方面存在重要差异。讨论了对实践的启示和进一步研究的方向。所获得的信息可用于制定减少延迟并改善冠心病男性和女性医疗保健的干预措施。
